Madden, 25, will not pitch competitively this year. The goal of his return-to-play throwing progression is to set him up for a productive offseason rather than to return to game action before the year ends. Madden was a first-round pick by the Tigers in 2021 (32nd overall) and entered 2024 ranked as the club's No. 2 pitching prospect behind Jackson Jobe. He rose quickly through the minors and made his big-league debut in his third professional season. Madden struggled in Triple-A last year with a 7.97 ERA in 18 starts but showed solid strikeout-to-walk control. In 23 MLB innings he posted a 4.30 ERA and a 3.99 FIP. He suffered a rotator cuff strain in spring training and was transferred to the 60-day injured list shortly after Opening Day.
Tigers right-hander won't pitch competitively this year, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including Evan Woodbery of MLive) yesterday. While the Tigers have announced that Madden is working on a return-to-play throwing progression, Hinch revealed that the goal of that program is to set him up for a "productive offseason" rather than to try and get him back on the mound for game action before the year ends.
In 23 innings of work across six appearances (including one start), Madden posted a 4.30 ERA with a 16.8% strikeout rate and an 7.9% walk rate. While that strikeout rate is rather low, his ability to avoid giving up walks and home runs allowed him to post a solid enough 3.99 FIP. That brief cup of coffee in the majors offered some reason for optimism that Madden could provide value as at least a back-end starter or swing man going forward.
Madden, 25, was a first-round pick by the Tigers back in 2021, drafted 32nd overall after the club took Jackson Jobe with the third overall pick. He was a quick riser through the minors who made his big league debut in his third professional season after entering the 2024 campaign ranked as the club's #2 pitching prospect behind Jobe. The right-hander's debut came last year even in spite of him struggling badly at the Triple-A level with a 7.97 ERA in 18 starts,
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